New BYOP Plans from Virgin Plus and Fido Stir the Water
Two well-known mobile brands have rolled out fresh bring-your-own-phone options. Virgin Plus and Fido now offer plans that work with phones you already own. A notable catch is the auto-pay discount; you must enroll in pre-authorized payments to save a little each month. These plans do not include a handset, so you bring your own device. The shift puts more focus on data choices and how much you really need.
Virgin Plus options
– $45 per month for 10GB, plus texts to other countries with no cap, plus call display, call waiting, and conference calling.
– $50 per month for 40GB, plus texts to other countries with no cap, plus call display, call waiting, and conference calling.
Virgin Plus keeps the BYOP model and adds the auto-pay savings, but the data buckets are smaller than before. The plan line shows the value of simple features alongside basic data. The texts abroad are a welcome touch for users who chat with friends far away.
Fido options
– $45 per month for 10GB, with $0 hotspot option, and 500 texts to other countries.
– $50 per month for 40GB, with $0 hotspot option, and 500 texts to other countries.
– $55 per month for 60GB, with $0 hotspot option, and 1000 texts to other countries.
Fido keeps a tiered set of data sizes and adds a hotspot incentive at no extra cost, though the hotspot is limited by a promotion. The text allotment grows with the plan, and the 60GB option tops the curve by offering more data and more texts. These are still BYOP plans, so you’ll need a phone you own to sign up.
How these prices stack up against the past
These new offers come with a higher price tag than earlier. Virgin Plus charged less before, with 10GB at $40 and 40GB at $45. Now the same data balls cost $5 more each month. That’s a noticeable bump for casual users who hoped for better value at the same data level.
Fido used to feature $40 for 20GB, $45 for 50GB, and $50 for 70GB. The present lines lift the price by $5 per month and also trim some data for many plans. It’s a double shift: higher bills and a smaller data pool in some cases.
Koodo’s stance so far has been to hold steady. Since reintroducing 5G options in July, it has not followed the others with major price jumps. The sector as a whole is watching whether prices settle or keep climbing.
What this means for customers
If you pay for auto-pay, you’ll snag a small monthly cut. The deal is simple: link your payment method ahead of time, and the discount will apply each cycle. It’s a nice touch, but it doesn’t erase the higher prices seen in these new plans. data remains the big factor for most shoppers, and the shifts here push many to compare data needs against the monthly cost.
For many users, these plans tilt toward light social and light streaming use. If you rely on a lot of data, the newer tiers may still fall short of what you need, especially when you factor in tax and extra fees. The hot spot perk, though helpful, comes with a promotion vibe rather than a steady feature across all plans.
The BYOP approach keeps costs down for those who already own a device and want a straightforward monthly bill. Yet the price bumps may nudge some to explore a pause or switch, especially if they’re near the edge of a plan’s data limit. Telecom shoppers should weigh their actual data use, the cost to move, and any device payments that could accompany a switch.
Choosing what fits your everyday life
– List your typical data need. If you scroll social, stream music, and text abroad often, bigger buckets help. If you mostly text and surf, the 10GB or 40GB sizes can do fine.
– Check if you need hotspot access. The no-cost hotspot add-on helps on the move, but confirm how much data you’ll use there.
– Look at coverage and speeds where you live and work. A plan is only as good as the network around you.
– Factor in auto-pay discounts. They are real but small. Make sure you’re set up properly to receive the save each month.
– Compare total costs over a year. The upfront price plus data and any needed extras adds up.
The move by Virgin Plus and Fido pushes BYOP plans into clearer focus. Prices are up in many cases, but data needs vary widely among users. Shoppers should break down their monthly routine, estimate data use, and then pick the option that matches best.
Final thoughts for the savvy buyer
The new lineups from Virgin Plus and Fido put data choice at the heart of the decision. If you want a simple setup with a modest data pool, these plans can work. If you require more data each month, you’ll want to compare carefully against other carriers or hold off for a sale. The bigger question is this: will your daily life benefit enough from the extra data to justify the higher price?
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